Vehicle with multi-positionable flat-bed

ABSTRACT

A roll-back, flat-bed truck comprising a cab at the front end and a frame at the rear end and a flat-bed with a curved leading edge secured thereto by securement members. The securement members include a hinge having a lower hinge half coupled to the frame adjacent to the rear end of the frame and an upper hinge half coupled to the bed. A hinge pin couples the hinge halves to allow tilting the upper hinge half and bed with respect to the lower hinge half and frame about a horizontal axis. A swivel plate is attached to the frame adjacent to the rear end of the frame and a swivel member positioned in an aperture extending through the swivel plate to allow swiveling of the bed with respect to the frame about a vertical axis. The center of curvature of the leading edge of the bed is coextensive with the axis of rotation of the swivel member. An intermediate support is attached to the upper surface of the upper hinge half with a component to slidably couple the bed thereto to allow for rolling the bed longitudinally with respect to the intermediate support, hinge and frame. A first drive is provided to slide the bed longitudinally with respect to the intermediate support, hinge and frame. A second drive is provided to tilt the bed, intermediate support and upper hinge half with respect to the lower hinge half, swivel plate and frame. A third drive is provided with a component adjacent to the front end of the intermediate support to swivel the bed, intermediate support and hinge with respect to the frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field Of The Invention

The present invention relates to an improved vehicle with amulti-positionable flat-bed and, more particularly, to an improvedapparatus for loading cars or the like onto a bed as of a truck,trailer, train car or the like through mechanisms for effecting acompound slide/tilt/swivel motion of the bed.

2. Description Of The Background Art

It is common to utilize a roll-back, flat-bed truck to quickly load andtransport a car which has been disabled, in an accident, illegallyparked, or which must be relocated from one sales area to another. Insuch situations, the transporting truck will be provided with aflat-bed. Flat-beds are normally movable with respect to the bed betweena first or rest position on the truck frame and a second or loadingposition rolled-back and at an angle with respect to the frame so thatthe car to be transported may be moved thereon. Such beds are pivotablewith respect to the truck between the two positions. In some instancesthe ramps are even capable of swiveling with respect to the truck inorder to load cars oriented at awkward angles with respect to thelocation where the truck may position itself.

One of the more significant shortcomings of known devices is theinability to effect a swiveling motion of the bed when the bed is in thesecond or loading position, rolled back and tilted with respect to thetruck. Such inability of prior art trucks renders them virtuallyincapable of conveniently loading a car parallel parked with its wheelslocked in a turned position. If loading such a car is attempted, thereis an undesired scraping of the tires on the ground during movement.

A wide variety of approaches have been attempted in the prior art toovercome such problems. By way of example, note U.S. Pat. No. 2,786,590to Edwards wherein a flat-bed may be variously repositioned with respectto a vehicle upon which it is positioned. Tilting is allowed in thetruck loading embodiment, but without swiveling. In the rail car loadingembodiment, swiveling is allowed only in association with anelevator-type arrangement.

In another patent of interest, U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,746 to Delachapelle abed is pivotable with respect to a truck frame. The bed is alsoswivelable. But, as shown in FIG. 5, the swivel effecting mechanisms 109are located at the level of the tires at the center of the frame. As aresult, swiveling can only occur when the bed is on the frame whichminimizes the utility of the apparatus. Further, no mechanisms areprovided to tilt the bed independent of its orientation.

In another body or prior art, there are various devices for effectingthe pivoting motion of a bed with respect to a truck frame but without adisclosure of the swiveling in combination with the pivoting in acompound motion. Note U.S. Pat. No. 2,179,611 to Ratcliffe; 2,621,814 toLisota; 2,703,658 to Bazzell; 4,249,851 to Sedelmayer; 4,456,420 toNewhard; and 4,770,592 to Winter.

These various patents all disclose mechanisms which attempt to solve theproblem addressed by the instant invention. All such prior artapproaches, however, have failed to offer the benefits attendant withthe present invention. The most superior roll-back, flat-bed truck isthat disclosed in my prior patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,362, the subjectmatter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

As illustrated by the large body of background art and commercialdevices, efforts are continuously being made in an attempt to improveroll-back, flat-bed vehicles. No prior effort, however, suggests thepresent inventive combination of component elements arranged andconfigured as disclosed herein. Prior roll-back, flat-bed vehicles donot provide the benefits attendant with the present invention. Thepresent invention achieves its purposes, objects and advantages over theprior art through a new, useful and unobvious combination of componentelements, through the use of a minimum number of functioning parts, andthrough the use of only readily available materials and conventionalcomponents.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aroll-back, flat-bed truck comprising a cab at the front end and a frameat the rear end and a flat-bed with a curved leading edge securedthereto by securement means, the securement means including a hingehaving a lower hinge half coupled to the frame adjacent to the rear endof the frame and an upper hinge half coupled to the bed and a hinge pincoupling the hinge halves to allow tilting the upper hinge half and bedwith respect to the lower hinge half and frame about a horizontal axis;a swivel plate attached to the frame adjacent to the rear end of theframe and a swivel member positioned in an aperture extending throughthe swivel plate to allow swiveling of the bed with respect to the frameabout a vertical axis, the center of curvature of the leading edge ofthe bed doing coextensive with the axis of rotation of the swivelmember; an intermediate support attached to the upper surface of theupper hinge half with means to slidably couple the bed thereto to allowfor rolling the bed longitudinally with respect to the intermediatesupport, hinge and frame; a first drive to slide the bed longitudinallywith respect to the intermediate support, hinge and frame; a seconddrive to tilt the bed, intermediate support and upper hinge half withrespect to the lower hinge half, swivel plate and frame, and a thirddrive having a component adjacent to the front end of the intermediatesupport to swivel the bed, intermediate support and hinge with respectto the frame.

It is a further object of the present invention to move a bed ofroll-back, flat-bed vehicle in a compound sliding/tilting/swivelingmotion to extend their utility.

It is a further object of the present invention to configure a hingewith one end secured in a first location and with the other end tiltableand with a swivel element for effecting a compound tilting/swivelingmotion between elements coupled by the hinge.

It is a further object of the present invention to reduce the width ofbeds of roll-back, flat-bed trucks and to form such beds with a curvedleading edge for elevated exhaust pipes and with lamps thereadjacent.

It is a further object of the present invention to strengthen the swivelmechanisms for roll-back, flat-bed trucks.

It is a further object of the present invention to load and transportcars more conveniently with a roll-back, flat-bed truck.

The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of theinvention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrativeof some of the more prominent features and applications of the intendedinvention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying thedisclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the inventionwithin the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and afuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to thesummary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferredembodiments in addition to the scope of the invention defined by theclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is defined by the appended claims with thespecific embodiment shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose ofsummarizing the invention, the invention may be incorporated into animproved roll-back, flat-bed truck comprising a cab at the front end anda frame at the rear end and a flat-bed with a curved leading edgesecured thereto by securement means, the securement means including ahinge having a lower hinge half coupled to the frame adjacent to therear end of the frame and an upper hinge half coupled to the bed and ahinge pin coupling the hinge halves to allow tilting the upper hingehalf and bed with respect to the lower hinge half and frame about ahorizontal axis; a swivel plate attached to the frame adjacent to therear end of the frame and a swivel member positioned in an apertureextending through the swivel plate to allow swiveling of the bed withrespect to the frame about a vertical axis, the center of curvature ofthe leading edge of the bed doing coextensive with the axis of rotationof the swivel member; an intermediate support attached to the uppersurface of the upper hinge half with means to slidably couple the bedthereto to allow for rolling the bed longitudinally with respect to theintermediate support, hinge and frame; a first drive to slide the bedlongitudinally with respect to the intermediate support, hinge andframe; a second drive to tilt the bed, intermediate support and upperhinge half with respect to the lower hinge half, swivel plate and frame,and a third drive having a component adjacent to the front end of theintermediate support to swivel the bed, intermediate support and hingewith respect to the frame.

The apparatus further includes illumination means at the lateral edgesof the leading edge of the bed; vertically extending reinforcement meansfor the swivel member; elevated exhaust pipes between the lateral edgesof the bed and cab; and rotatable elastomeric pads adjacent to thelateral edges of the bed at the rear end thereof.

The invention may also be incorporated into an improved roll-back,flat-bed truck comprising a cab at the front end and a frame at the rearend and a flat-bed secured thereto by securement means, the width of thebed is less than 126 percent of the width of the cab, the securementmeans including a hinge having a lower hinge half coupled to the frameadjacent to the rear end of the frame and an upper hinge half coupled tothe bed and a hinge pin coupling the hinge halves to allow tilting theupper hinge half and bed with respect to the lower hinge half and frameabout a horizontal axis;

a swivel plate attached to the frame adjacent to the rear end of theframe and a swivel member positioned in an aperture extending throughthe swivel plate to allow swiveling of the bed with respect to the frameabout a vertical axis;

an intermediate support attached to the upper surface of the upper hingehalf with means to slidably couple the bed thereto to allow for rollingthe bed longitudinally with respect to the intermediate support, hingeand frame;

first drive means to slide the bed longitudinally with respect to theintermediate support, hinge and frame;

second drive means to tilt the bed, intermediate support and upper hingehalf with respect to the lower hinge half, swivel plate and frame, and

third drive means having a component adjacent to the front end of theintermediate support to swivel the bed, intermediate support and hingewith respect to the frame.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent andimportant features of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood sothat the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated.Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter whichform the subject of the claims of the invention. It should beappreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and thespecific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by thoseskilled in the art that such equivalent structures do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a truck having a multi-positionable flat-bedconstructed in accordance with the principles of the invention withparts broken away to show internal constructions thereof.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the truck with the flat-bed asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the rear portion of theflat-bed as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged showing of the left side of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the flat-bed shown in FIG. 3 withparts broken away to show internal constructions thereof.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the hinge mechanisms of the flat-bed ofFIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the motion imparting mechanisms for theelevating and swiveling of the flat-bed.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Shown in FIG. 1 is a roll-back, flat-bed truck 10 which illustrates thepreferred embodiment of the invention. It should be appreciated,however, that the present invention is applicable to various other typesof large vehicles capable of transporting smaller vehicles. By way ofexample, the invention is applicable to flat-bed trailers, rail cars andother large vehicles. In addition, smaller vehicles other than cars maybe transported, as for example, small trucks, vans, motorcycles, etc.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, the truck 10 is generallyconventional and includes a cab 12 at the front end 14 and a frame 16 atthe rear end 18. The frame is constructed of iron rails 20 with agenerally flat upper surface 22. Such frame might be a flat, sheet metalmember, but is preferably made up of linear rails and cross members asshown. The upper surface 22 constitutes a support for the unique motionimparting and guiding mechanisms 24 with the bed 26 located thereabove.The bed is essentially imperforate and has an upper surface forreceiving the car or other smaller vehicle to be transported. The bedmay be positioned in a first or rest orientation, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, or in a second or loading orientation. In the rest orientation,the bed is positioned parallel with, overlying and supported by thelower bed.

The leading edge 29 of the bed 26 is curved about an axis of rotationequivalent to the axis of rotation of the pivot point about which thebed swivels. The central extent of the leading edge of the bed islocated adjacent to the rear edge of the cab. The lateral edges of theleading edge are spaced from the cab. This allows room for verticallyextending exhaust pipes 31 to project upwardly for exhausting directlyto the atmosphere rather than through the components of the bed andother mechanisms trailing the truck. This relationship also allows forthe placement of lights 33 at the lateral edges on the leading edge ofthe bed for better viewing of the truck and bed by others to increasethe safety of the system. In this regard, the width of the bed isreduced to seven feet four inches as compared to seven feet eleveninches which is standard. When compared to the normal cab width of sixfeet three inches, this is a reduction in width of the trailingcomponents and bed for improved accessibility into tight places. Suchreduction is a bed width reduction from 126.7 percent of the cab widthto 117.3 percent.

Located between the bed 26 and the frame 20 are the mechanisms 24 forallowing a compound tilting and swiveling motion of the bed with respectto the frame of the truck. The mechanisms between the bed and frameinclude a hinge 32, a swivel plate 34 therebeneath, and an intermediatesupport 36 thereabove.

The swivel plate 34 is securely coupled to the upper surface of the bed26 as by welding. It is preferably located at the rear end 18 of theframe 20 and truck, a location which extends utility to the mechanismsthereabove. A circular hole 38 extends through the swivel plate forreceiving a swivel member 40 coupling the hinge 32 to the swivel plate34 and the frame 20 of the truck 10.

The intermediate support 36 is preferably formed of iron rails securedtogether in a generally rectangular configuration and includingrectangularly-shaped metal guide bars 44 extending along the lengththereof. The intermediate support is located immediately beneath the bed26 and above the hinge 32 to which it is secured through vertical rails46 and coupled thereto as by welding. The guide bars 44 function tosupport the bed and guide it in its longitudinal motion toward and awayfrom the cab 12.

Located between the intermediate support 36 and the swivel plate 34 isthe hinge 32. The hinge has a first or lower hinge plate 50 formed witha downwardly extending circular tube which constitutes the swivel member40. The upper hinge plate 54 is coupled to the intermediate support 36as by welding. The hinge 32 overlies the swivel plate 34 and frame atits rearmost edge which are apertured with a downwardly extending outertube for receiving the swivel member 40. The second or upper hinge plate54 is pivotally coupled to the lower hinge plate through a hinge pin 56located parallel with the rear edge of the truck and frame. Thislocation of the hinge pin 56 allows for tilting of the upper hinge plate54 with respect to the lower hinge plate 50 and frame 20 about a firstor horizontal axis of rotation for increased freedom of tiltingmovement.

The swivel member 40 is circular in cross sectional shape to mate withinthe circular holes 38 and 52 within the lower hinge plate and the swivelplate 34. The upper and lower portions of the swivel member 40 extendwith the upper enlarged portion above the lower hinge plate 50 and thelower enlarged portion beneath the swivel plate 34. This allows thehinge 32 and components thereabove, including the bed, to swivel withrespect to the swivel plate, frame and truck. The swiveling is about avertical axis extending through the center of the swivel member.

The hinge member 40 is preferably formed as an integral extension of thelower hinge plate 50. The hinge member is a tube with a downwardlyextending circular cross-section. The hinge member is located in anaperture in the swivel plate 34. The aperture in swivel 34 is a tubeshaped extension 38 of the swivel plate which extends downwardly with acircular exterior cross-section and a circular interior cross-section ofsuch size as to receive the downwardly extending hinge member 40. Byhaving the tubular extension 38 of the swivel plate 34 of an extendedlength, a greater bearing surface is provided between the hinge member40 of the lower hinge plate and the swivel plate 34 for greaterstability and smoother turning during operation and use. The lower edgeof the hinge member 40 beneath the lower extent of the tubular extension38 includes a face plate with removable bolts to preclude inadvertentlifting of the lower hinge plate and hinge from the swivel plate.Additional support is provided to the lower extension 38 of the swivelplate by radially extending triangular supports 61 between the lowersurface of the bed and the exterior surface of the tubular extension 38.This precludes inadvertent movement of the tubular extension withrespect to the bed and swivel plate for greater efficiency of themechanisms during operation and use.

The bed is coupled to the hinge through the intermediate support 36.Coupling between the bed and intermediate support is effected through apair of H-shaped iron rails depending from the lower surface of the bedin a parallel relationship to each other as well as to the longitudinalcenterline of the intermediate support, bed, frame and truck. The ironrails have their recessed surfaces facing each other for receiving therectangularly shaped iron rails 44 which are secured to the uppersurface of the intermediate support. The H-shaped iron rails 46 areadapted to be guided by the rectangularly shaped iron rails 44 forlongitudinally moving the bed along its length.

The present apparatus allows for the utilization of a conventional towbar 47. In the preferred embodiment, the tow bar includes an axiallyshiftable piston mounted at its forward end to the lower face of theframe. It is adapted to move in a three part, compound motion the sameas the bed. Its rearward end is hydraulically controlled for linearmovement. This construction allows for a second car to be towed behindthe flatbed at a safe distance to eliminate damage on turns while afirst car is being transported on the bed.

The compound motion is imparted to the bed by a series of motionimparting mechanisms interrelated to allow the bed to be extended orrolled back rearwardly along the intermediate member away from the cab,this allows the bed to be pivoted about the horizontal axis of the hingepin 56 for tilting the bed with respect to the frame of the truck. Thisoccurs through the raising of the forward end of the intermediatesupport and bed. This also allows the bed and coupling mechanisms torotate about the vertical axis of the swivel member for swiveling thebed and coupling mechanisms with respect to the frame of the truck. Thethree motion imparting mechanisms all function independently one withrespect with the other. In this manner the swiveling or the tiliting orthe sliding may be done independently regardless of the position of thebed.

The first motion imparting mechanism is the slide piston 66. The slidepiston has its cylinder pivotally coupled at its front. end to a crossbar of the intermediate support through a clevis The reciprocal rod 72of the slide piston 66 has its back end pivotally coupled to anintermediate cross bar 74 attached to the bed on its underside adjacentto the rear through a clevis. Movement of the rod 72 is under thecontrol of the operator and is effected by introducing pneumatic orhydraulic fluid to one end of the cylinder or the other in theconventional manner as more fully described in the prior art asexemplified by the prior art as referred to hereinabove.

The second of the motion imparting mechanisms is the elevating pistons78. The elevating pistons are a pair of conventional pistons located onopposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of the bed and frame. Eachcylinder has its extension rod 80 pivotally coupled at its lower end toa lower portion of the frame through a clevis 82. The upper end of thecylinder of each elevating piston has its upper end pivotally coupled toa yoke 84. The yoke, in turn, is coupled to a support bar through athrust pin to allow rocking of the support bar with respect to the yoke.The yoke and support bar are elevationally positioned by the elevatingpistons 78. The yoke and support bar are not mounted for lateralmovement or swiveling with the swiveling of the hinge or its relatedmechanisms. The support bar retains a motor 90 and pinion gear 92 foroperatively coupling with a curved rack 94 on the underside of theintermediate support 36. Movement of the rods 80 of the elevatingpistons is under the control of the operator and is effected byconcurrently introducing the pneumatic or hydraulic fluid to one end ofthe cylinders or the other in the conventional manner as more fullydescribed in the prior art as referred to hereinabove.

Associated with the elevating pistons 78 are a pair of braces 96. Eachbrace is coupled at its upper end to the upper end of its associatedpiston. The braces extend downwardly to a lower end beneath the top ofthe frame. When the elevating pistons rise to lift the bed, the interioredges of the braces slide against adjacent portions of the frame t addstrength and rigidity to the cylinders. This strength and rigidity isespecially important when the bed is driven to swivel during operationand use.

The braces 96 for the pistons are formed as a pair of linear channelirons in an "X" shaped configuration. Each is secured at one end to oneend of a piston 78 and their other end to the other end of the piston.They are preferably bolted together centrally for a more secure couplingat minimum weight for effecting proper motion of the pistons 78 withrespect to each other and the bed during movement with negligiblemovement of the pistons with respect to each other thereby eliminatingracking of any swivel movement during operation.

The third of the motion imparting mechanisms is the rack 94 and cable92. The rack is secured beneath the lower surface of the intermediatesupport while the cable is supported above the upper surface thereof.The rack is curved with its axis of rotation being the vertical axis ofthe swivel member. The rack and cable are located at the front end ofthe intermediate support 36. The winch is driven in one direction ofrotation or the other by the motor 90 depending from, and supported by,the support bar 86. Movement of the winch and thus the cable and rackare under the control of the operator and is effected by energizing themotor in the conventional manner.

The pivoting of the support bar 86 with respect to the yoke 88 is toaccommodate the rocking movement of the front end of the intermediatesupport 36 and bed 26 when they are swiveled with the bed tilted.Swiveling when tilted tends to raise the lower and the opposite ends ofthe intermediate member and bed thus effecting their rocking.

The particularly disclosed rack and pinion mechanism is shown as thepreferred embodiment for effecting the swiveling motion of the hinge,intermediate member and bed. It should be understood that a wide varietyof other mechanisms could be utilized for such function. For example, acable and worm gear, through a pulley assembly, could readily beutilized to move the bed and related mechanisms from one side to theother about the axis of the swivel member. In addition, such mechanismscould also be located at other than the front end of the bed andintermediate members, as for example, at or adjacent to the hinge.

The particular choice of materials utilized throughout the frame, bedand components in between are well within the purview of one skilled inthe arts. Steel would be the most commonly used material for the partsof the present invention. It has been found, however, that aluminum maybe readily utilized and constitutes the preferred embodiment for thematerials of the bed, intermediate support, hinge and swivel plate. byusing aluminum rather than steel for these parts, it has been found thattheir function may be maintained and may be accomplished with cheaperand lighter weight materials, for improved efficiency, cost savings, andless fuel consumption during operation and use. Further, it has beenfound that the contacting surfaces which slide one against the othershould be well greased during operation and use, particularly, the areabetween the lower hinge half and the swivel plate. In addition, the areaof contact between the rails of the bed and intermediate support shouldalso be well greased. It has been found, however, that wear generated bysliding is reduced and ease of sliding increased if sheets of alubricous material such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene orNylatron G.S. are employed on the upper surface of the swivel plate andthe lower surface of the lower hinge half as well as the areas ofcontact between the rails of the bed and intermediate support. Suchlubricous materials add great utility, life and convenience to thepresent invention.

Each of the motion imparting mechanisms, the slide piston 66, theelevating pistons 78 and the rack 94 and pinion 92 may be activated anddeactivated independently under the control of the operator.Consequently, any of the three motions, roll-back, elevating andswiveling may be imparted to the bed independent of the other twomotions. In other words, the bed may be rolled forward to a restposition or rolled back to a loading position independent of the tiltingor swiveling position. In addition, the bed may be tilted to anessentially horizontal position parallel with, and overlying the bedframe when in the rest position or it may be tilted with its back endlocated downwardly as when in a loading position independent of theroll-back or swiveling position. Lastly, the bed may be swiveled from analigned position wherein the longitudinal axis of the bed is alignedwith the longitudinal axis of the frame and truck when in the restposition or it may be swiveled in either direction about the axis of theswivel member when in the loading position independent of the roll-backor tilting position.

Swiveling of the bed when in the loading position is allowed andfacilitated by freely rotatable wheels 100 supported by legs 102attached to the lower surface of the bed. In this manner, the swivelingmay be effected with the ramp in its rest to tilted position forloading.

The method of movement of the bed before picking up cars or othervehicles is essentially that as described in my aforementionedapplication. In addition to the foregoing, resilient pads 106 areprovided in the corners of the bed adjacent the rear edge thereof. Eachpad includes a thick rectangular sheet 108 of elastomeric material,natural or synthetic. Secured therebeneath is a thick metallic plate110. The thin plate therebeneath 112 is supported on the bed. A postextends downwardly from the upper plate 110 through an aperture in thelower plate 112 and through an aperture in the bed of the truck. In thismanner, when the leading edge of the vehicle to be lifted is placed onthe upper surface of the vulcanized sheet and the bed is swiveled, therewill be a scraping motion at the interface of the thin and thick plates110 and 112. A layer of grease is preferably provided therebetween. Inthis manner, there will be no scraping of the lower surface of thetransported vehicle with respect to the corner of the bed of the truckwhen lifted and swiveled.

By such apparatus, a parked car may be moved from a parallel positionbetween two adjacent cars and loaded onto a roll-back, flat-bed of thetruck constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention. The bed is first rolled back by activating the slide piston.The bed is then tilted by activating the elevating pistons. Lastly, thebed is swiveled so that its rear right corner is under the front leftcorner of the car to be moved. The rear end of the bed is then raised toelevate the front of the car. This is effected by lowering the elevatingpistons so that the bed pivots about the hinge pin axis. With the carraised, the bed is then pivoted clockwise through the rack and pinionand associated motor to move the front of the car in a counter clockwisemanner facing out of its parking place. The bed is then lowered byraising the elevating piston. The bed is then swiveled counter clockwiseso that it is in alignment with the car. A conventional winch 106attached to the front end of the bed is then utilized to pull the car toa central location on the flat-bed. The bed is then swiveled intoalignment with the truck, rolled forward and then tilted to bring thebed and loaded car into the rest position for being transported. Becauseof the use of the urethane bumbers of cars, a car may be secured by achain to slide out the car to eliminate damage to the urethane bumbersof the cars.

A car to be loaded similar to the above described method if its wheelsare locked at an angle. The bed is first positioned in an angled loadingposition with the angle being aligned with the angle of the front tires.The winch is then utilized to pull the car partially up the bed. Therack and pinion and motor are then energized to align the bed with thetruck and rear wheels of the car. The winch is once again energized topull the car up the bed for being transported. If the car is a frontwheel drive, the linkage can be disconnected on the underside of the carto use the bed and winch in the manner.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims,as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this inventionhas been described in its preferred form with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of thepreferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerouschanges in the details of structures and the combination and arrangementof parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:
 1. A roll-back, flat-bed truck with a front end anda rear end comprising a cab having lateral edges at the front end and aframe at the rear end and a flat-bed with a curved leading edge andlateral edges secured thereto by securement means, the securement meansincluding;a hinge having a lower hinge half coupled to the frameadjacent to the rear end of the frame and an upper hinge half coupled tothe bed, the upper hinge half having an upper surface and a a hinge pincoupling the hinge halves to allow tilting the upper hinge half and bedwith respect to the lower hinge half and frame about a horizontal axis;a swivel plate attached to the frame adjacent to the rear end of theframe and a swivel member positioned in an aperture extending throughthe swivel plate to allow swiveling of the bed with respect to the frameabout a vertical axis, a center of curvature of the leading edge of thebed being coextensive with an axis of rotation of the swivel member; anintermediate support attached to the upper surface of the upper hingehalf with means to slidably couple the bed thereto to allow for rollingthe bed longitudinally with respect to the intermediate support, hingeand frame, the intermediate support having a front end; first drivemeans to slide the bed longitudinally with respect to the intermediatesupport, hinge and frame; second drive means to tilt the bed,intermediate support and upper hinge half with respect to the lowerhinge half, swivel plate and frame, and third drive means havingcomponent adjacent to the front end of the intermediate support toswivel the bed, intermediate support and hinge with respect to theframe.
 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further includingillumination means at the lateral edges of the leading edge of the bed.3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further includingvertically extending reinforcement means for the swivel member.
 4. Theapparatus as set forth in claim 1 and further including elevated exhaustpipes between the lateral edges of the bed and cab.
 5. The apparatus asset forth in claim 1 and further including rotatable, elastomeric padsadjacent to the lateral edges of the bed at the rear end thereof.
 6. Foruse with a vehicle, a roll-back, flat-bed assembly with a front end anda rear end comprising a cab at the front end and a frame at the rear endand a flat-bed secured thereto by securement means, the bed and the cabeach having a width the width of the bed is less than 126 percent of thewidth of the cab, the securement means including;a hinge having a lowerhinge half coupled to the frame adjacent to the rear end of the frameand an upper hinge half coupled to the bed, the upper hinge half havingan upper surface and a hinge pin coupling the hinge halves to allowtilting the upper hinge half and bed with respect to the lower hingehalf and frame about a horizontal axis; a swivel plate attached to theframe adjacent to the rear end of the frame and a swivel memberpositioned in an aperture extending through the swivel plate to allowswiveling of the bed with respect to the frame about a vertical axis; anintermediate support attached to the upper surface of the upper hingehalf with means to slidably couple the bed thereto to allow for rollingthe bed longitudinally with respect to the intermediate support, hingeand frame; first drive means to slide the bed longitudinally withrespect to the intermediate support, hinge and frame; second drive meansto tilt the bed, intermediate support and upper hinge half with respectto the lower hinge half, swivel plate and frame, and third drive meanshaving a component adjacent to the front end of the intermediate supportto swivel the bed, intermediate support and hinge with respect to theframe.